Earthquakes Weekly Update: December 9. 2013

MLS Re-Entry Process Approaching
Stage One of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Process will take place on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 12 p.m. PT. The league unveiled a full list of players eligible for the process on Monday, which includes the following from San Jose: Nana Attakora, Mehdi Ballouchy, Dan Gargan and Evan Newton. Clubs may still sign their Re-Entry Process eligible players through 2 p.m. PT on December 11. Additionally, eligible players may opt out of the Re-Entry Process between now and 2 p.m. PT on December 11. Stage Two draft will take place on Wednesday, December 18 at 12 p.m. PT. The two drafts will take place via teleconference with all 19 clubs represented. MLS will release the results following each of the calls. Both Stage One and Stage Two drafts will be conducted in the same order as the traditional Waiver Draft. Clubs must exercise the option for, or extend a Bona Fide Offer to, all players selected in Stage 1. Players that were out of contract may either accept or reject the Bona Fide Offer. Should a player reject the offer, the drafting club will hold the right of first refusal for that player in MLS. Players with option years left on their contract will automatically be added to the drafting club’s roster.

Earthquakes Holiday Pack
Tis’ the season for the Earthquakes Holiday Pack, which includes four, five or six sideline tickers to the club’s 2014 home opener and a player-signed miniature soccer ball. The first 25 packages will receive a ball autographed by Chris Wondolowski while remaining packages will receive a signed ball from Jon Busch, Sam Cronin or Clarence Goodson, selected randomly. For more information or to purchase, visit www.sjearthquakes.com.

10 Nationally Televised Games for Earthquakes in 2014
The Earthquakes announced their 2014 slate, a schedule that includes 10 nationally televised games and home dates at Stanford Stadium and Levi’s® Stadium. For a full look, visit www.sjearthquakes.com/schedule. Individual tickets for all games except matches at Stanford Stadium and Levi’s® Stadium will be available through a special Visa Pre-Sale starting on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. PT and will be available by visiting the club’s website or by calling 1-800-225-2277. Groups of 10 or more should call the Front Office at 408-556-7700 to inquire about group rates.

Stanford Stadium On-Sale Date
The Earthquakes will play at Stanford Stadium for a fourth-consecutive year on Saturday, June 28 against the LA Galaxy. The previous two editions drew sellout crowds of over 50,000. In addition to the soccer match, fans will be treated to a Salute to the Armed Forces halftime show and post-game fireworks extravaganza. Tickets will go on sale beginning Wednesday, Jan. 29 with a special Visa Pre-Sale. General public availability will follow two days later starting at 10 a.m. PT.

Earthquakes to Open Levi’s® Stadium on Aug. 2, 2014
The Santa Clara Stadium Authority and the San Jose Earthquakes announced that they have partnered to present the first event at Levi’s® Stadium. The Earthquakes will play host to Seattle Sounders FC in one of Major League Soccer’s most heated rivalries on August 2, 2014. Earthquakes season ticket holders and Levi’s® Stadium SBL holders will have priority access to tickets for this event. Tickets for the general public go on sale at a later date. In order to ensure great seats at the match, fans should call the Earthquakes Front Office at 408-556-7700 to purchase season tickets today.

First Steel Erected at New Stadium Site
The Earthquakes began erecting the steel framework for the club’s future office building and locker rooms at their new stadium site on Nov. 5. Head coach Mark Watson, general manager John Doyle and president Dave Kaval signed the first crossbeam, which was placed on the west end of the structure. Representatives from Devcon Construction and Schuff Steel Company were also on hand to celebrate the occasion. The Earthquakes’ new 18,000-seat stadium will be located on Coleman Ave next to San Jose International Airport. For information about tickets, visit www.sjearthquakes.com/newstadium.

Club Announces Creation of PDL Affiliate
The Earthquakes became the fourth MLS club to establish a Premier Development League squad last week. They will begin competing in 2014 with a home location and coaching staff still to be decided. The PDL has over 60 teams from the United States and Canada split amongst four conferences. The rosters are comprised of amateur players in the U-23 age group. The Earthquakes’ squad will feature players who have competed for the club’s Academy and other locally-based talent. Other MLS teams to field teams directly in the PDL include the Chicago Fire, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Portland Timbers, while Seattle Sounders FC, the New England Revolution and the Philadelphia Union also hold affiliations with the PDL’s Sounders FC U-23, Real Boston Rams and Reading United AC, respectively. For more information about the club’s Academy system, please visit www.sjearthquakes.com/academy.

Quakes President Dave Kaval’s Office Hours
Earthquakes president Dave Kaval’s office hours are held every Tuesday between 3 and 5 p.m. Participants are welcome to call or visit in person at our Front Office at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 220 in Santa Clara. In addition, Dave will be holding his office hours from the new stadium site located at 1135 Coleman Ave, San Jose, Calif., on the second Tuesday of each month between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. To make an appointment during his office hours, email Dave directly at president@sjearthquakes.com. Office hour dates are subject to change. Be sure to read his blog, Kaval’s Kickoff, available exclusively at www.sjearthquakes.com, and follow him on Twitter at @QuakesPrez.